Cost of Living Comparison Between Janakpur and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Janakpur and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $292 per month in Janakpur vs $484 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A couple spends around $511 per month in Janakpur vs $773 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A family of three spends $730 per month in Janakpur vs $1,063 in Kathmandu, rent included.

Janakpur is about 40% cheaper than Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Janakpur and Kathmandu are more affordable than the global median – Janakpur 79% lower, Kathmandu 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.92 NPR 290

$1.94 NPR 294

-1.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.38 NPR 1,722

$20.08 NPR 3,038

-43.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.75 NPR 1,021

$6.74 NPR 1,020

0.15%

Cappuccino

$1.56 NPR 235

$1.54 NPR 234

1.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 NPR 85.4

$0.56 NPR 84.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 21.35

$0.15 NPR 23.03

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 NPR 306

$3.23 NPR 489

-37.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 NPR 243

$3.67 NPR 556

-56.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 NPR 91.4

$0.76 NPR 115

-21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 NPR 51.8

$0.63 NPR 95.2

-46.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 NPR 130

Eggs

$1.70 NPR 257

$1.69 NPR 256

0.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.32 NPR 502

$7.26 NPR 1,098

-54.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.31 NPR 349

$3.40 NPR 515

-32.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.23 NPR 792

$5.21 NPR 788

0.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 NPR 254

$2.07 NPR 313

-18.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 105

$1.15 NPR 174

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 NPR 146

$1.41 NPR 213

-31.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 NPR 80.5

$0.57 NPR 86.7

-7.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 NPR 47.39

$0.38 NPR 58.1

-18.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 NPR 76.6

$0.52 NPR 78.0

-1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.21 NPR 31.07

$0.49 NPR 74.6

-57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 25.35

$0.25 NPR 37.98

-32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 NPR 351

$2.70 NPR 408

-14.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 NPR 1,205

$7.94 NPR 1,201

0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 NPR 224

$2.23 NPR 337

-33.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 NPR 301

$3.00 NPR 454

-33.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.11 NPR 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 NPR 104

$2.02 NPR 305

-65.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 NPR 201

$1.34 NPR 203

-0.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 NPR 503

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 NPR 155

$1.41 NPR 213

-26.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.2K NPR 3.5M

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

-21.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K NPR 3.9M

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

-28.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$13.38 NPR 2,024

$31.68 NPR 4,793

-57.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.38 NPR 512

$3.38 NPR 511

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.86 NPR 583

$8.12 NPR 1,228

-52.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.19 NPR 1,996

$22.51 NPR 3,406

-41.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 NPR 1,023

$7.01 NPR 1,060

-3.57%

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 NPR 458

$2.98 NPR 451

1.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$32.29 NPR 4,885

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

-51.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,902 NPR 741.5K

$4,824 NPR 729.7K

1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.62 NPR 4,027

$26.37 NPR 3,990

0.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.23 NPR 2,455

$28.67 NPR 4,337

-43.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.12 NPR 5,918

$65.9 NPR 9,967

-40.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.03 NPR 3,484

$30.44 NPR 4,605

-24.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$51.9 NPR 7,850

$221 NPR 33.4K

-76.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$22.78 NPR 3,446

$104 NPR 15.7K

-78.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$129 NPR 19.6K

$439 NPR 66.4K

-70.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.3 NPR 15.0K

$204 NPR 30.9K

-51.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,289 NPR 346.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 NPR 201.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$333 NPR 50.4K

$275 NPR 41.6K

21.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Janakpur: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $51.9 in Janakpur versus $221 in Kathmandu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Janakpur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Janakpur versus $20.00 in Kathmandu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $108 vs $144 – making Janakpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Janakpur vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $292 in Janakpur, $484 in Kathmandu – roughly 66% apart. Kathmandu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $438 per month in Janakpur and $725 in Kathmandu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Janakpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $292 in Janakpur and $484 in Kathmandu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $32.29 per month in Janakpur and $67.1 in Kathmandu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $292 in Janakpur and $484 in Kathmandu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Janakpur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Janakpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kathmandu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.